Jewish Tour of China

Uncover the legacy of Jewish China on this highlights tour with a kosher twist. Explore the synagogues and Jewish quarters of Tianjin and Harbin, and discover how Shanghai saved the lives of thousands of refugees during WW2.

What we love

Learning about Shanghai's heroic part in saving the lives of thousands of Jews during WWII

Paying
respects at the Ohel Moshe Synagogue, once the center of Shanghai's Jewish
community.

Basic Itinerary

About This Trip

Explore China's Jewish past on this special Jewish heritage trip that will take you to China's historic Jewish hubs of Tianjin, Harbin, and Shanghai. Jews and Judaism have a long history in China and while much of that is indeed confined to history, proud architectural testaments and Jewish communities can still be found today. The bustling metropolis of Shanghai, better known today for its high-rises than its humanitarianism, once played a role in saving the lives of around 20,000 Jews during World War II. Visit the former Shanghai Jewish Ghetto and synagogue as you develop an understanding of how Jews used to live in China.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Shanghai's Jewish Past

Tianjin

Shanghai Xintiandi

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day1|4

Beijing

Begin your Beijing adventure in style as WildChina arranges private access to the concept store and gallery of Ma Ke's fashion house, Wuyong. • Explore the imposing Forbidden City, where emperors ruled for 500 years • Hike up jingshan and take in a commanding view over the Forbidden City • Weave your way through Beijing's ancient, interwoven hutong alleys • Uncover a treasure trove of Qing Dynasty curios in the Temple Hotel • Peking duck dinner • Enjoy a champagne picnic on the majestic Great Wall, built to protect China's heartland from invaders • Celebrate Shabbat with a day of rest

Day5

Tianjin

Explore Tianjin's European past by strolling through the diverse European architecture of the Five Avenues, built when nine foreign countries had concessions in the city • Visit the former Tianjin Synagogue, built in 1939 when Tianjin hosted China's third largest Jewish population • Walk through the Five Avenues and the Small White Building district to view where Tianjin's Jewish population used to live

Day6|7

Harbin

Visit the Jewish Cultural Museum, formerly Harbin New Synagogue, the largest synagogue in East Asia • Wander through Harbin's former Jewish neighbourhood to get a feel of what life was once like for Harbin's Jewish residents • Stroll through the European-influenced Central Street, which includes Jewish architectural wonders such as the old Jewish Bank • Visit the imposing St. Sophia Cathedral, a grand Russian structure that used to be a Russian Orthodox church but is now a museum • Visit Huangshan Public Cemetery, which houses graves from the former Jewish Cemetery

Day8|10

Shanghai

With Jewish expert Dvir Bargal, visit the former Shanghai Jewish Ghetto, which was officially liberated in 1945 • Drop by Ohel Moshe Synagogue, once the center of Shanghai's Jewish community and now a museum commemorating Shanghai's role in saving the lives of tens of thousands of Jews • Visit the Children's Palace, built by a Jewish family from Baghdad between 1918 and 1931 • Travel back to Shanghai's stylish 1930s as you walk down the elegant tree-lined streets of the French Concession • Wander through Yu Garden, the most celebrated classical garden in Shanghai • Spend the rest of the day at your leisure • Recommended: visit the Shanghai Museum, a veritable treasure trove of Chinese artifacts, or stroll alongside the Huangpu River on the Bund, taking in Shanghai's iconic skyline

The Opposite House Beijing

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments

All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary

All meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

All services of WildChina English-speaking guide(s)

All accommodations, based on double-occupancy and including breakfast, service charge, and government tax

Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip

What's Not Included:

International & domestic flights and relevant taxes

Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders

Travel, health and trip cancellation insurance

Meals apart from those included in the itinerary and alcohol

Expenses of a personal nature

Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary

Discretionary gratuities for guides and chauffeurs

Tour Reviews

My wife and I are vegan and were pretty worried about our ability to find decent food, but our guides were very helpful at identifying appropriate restaurants and checking with restaurant staff to make sure the dishes we ordered were vegan. Shelly in particular was the perfect combination of knowledgable, fun, flexible, kind, interesting, and accommodating. We were truly sad to say goodbye to her at the airport, and I suspect my wife is already thinking about making another trip to Yunnan province to visit her again!

We recently had an 8 day trip to Beijing and Shanghai put together by Wild China. They did an outstanding job! Attention to details and flexibility in schedule were top notch. The on the ground guides were awesome and provide an extremely professional/friendly experience.

When going back to China...Wild China will be our first and only stop when booking.

WildChina did an outstanding job of navigating, what is now a difficult to travel in area of China. Once you accept the intense and obvious police scrutiny particularly in Xinjiang Province. The area has much natural beauty and many interesting historical sites.

My twin brother and I went for our 75th birthday and spent approximately 3+ weeks (March 2019) traveling bookending the trip with Beijing and Shanghai. We had both been to China several times, but not to Gansu Province or Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Wild China arranged our guides, drivers, accommodations and permits.

We made dumplings in Beijing; noodles in Lanzhou,and had great barbecue in Hoten. We rode camels In Dunhuang (Minsha Sand Dunes) and in the Taklamakan Desert, and horses near the Matisi Grottoes (Sunan) Zhangye , and had a goatskin raft ride on the Yellow River in Lanzhou. We visited many buddhist caves and grottoes, Including Matisi Grottoes (Zhangye: Mogao Grottoes (Dunhuang); Kizil 1,000 Buddha Caves (Kuqa). Saw extraordinary natural beauty. Kudos to WildChina.

SIMILAR JOURNEYS

Talk to us - Jewish Tour of China

Need more information?

Email a trip designer atinfo@wildchina.com. Tell us what you’re dreaming of, thinking of, or just have questions about. Within a business day, you’ll have your very own trip designer on the case.

Give us a call or schedule the best time for you by emailing us your preferred call-back time. Our team in Seattle can be reached on +1 888 902 8808 (GMT -7), or you can reach us in our Beijing office on +86 10 6465 6602 (GMT +8). We’re available from 9am – 6pm, local time.

Ready to plan your trip?

If you have an idea of the journey you’d like to take, please fill in the form below. According to your preferences and travel style, we’ll assign you a personal trip designer. They’ll reach out within one business day and work with you to create your perfect itinerary.

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Talk to us - Jewish Tour of China

Need more information?

Email a trip designer atinfo@wildchina.com. Tell us what you’re dreaming of, thinking of, or just have questions about. Within a business day, you’ll have your very own trip designer on the case.

Give us a call or schedule the best time for you by emailing us your preferred call-back time. Our team in Seattle can be reached on +1 888 902 8808 (GMT -7), or you can reach us in our Beijing office on +86 10 6465 6602 (GMT +8). We’re available from 9am – 6pm, local time.

Ready to plan your trip?

If you have an idea of the journey you’d like to take, please fill in the form below. According to your preferences and travel style, we’ll assign you a personal trip designer. They’ll reach out within one business day and work with you to create your perfect itinerary.

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Need More Information?

Give us a call or schedule the best time for you by emailing us your preferred call-back time. Our team in Seattle can be reached on +1 888 902 808 (GMT -7), or you can reach us in our Beijing office on +86 10 6465 6602 (GMT +8). We're available from 9am - 6pm, local time.

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